Screed levelling devices



T. A. MILLER scREED LEVELLINGDEVICES June 21,` 1955 Filed April 30.v 1952 u .2. .....F ...www

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A Tranne-V5 United States Patent O SCREED LEVELLING DEVICES Thomas A. Miller, Bowness, Alberta, Canada Application April 30, 1952, Serial No. 285,233 z Claims. (cl. 'l2-12s) My invention relates to new and useful improvements' in screed levelling devices, more particularly in improvements to assist in the accurate levelling of concrete and the like, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described whereby a predetermined level may be ascertained by means of a transit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described the use of which permits a section of the area to be concreted to be prepared beforehand, the device being capable of being removed after the concrete has been laid and re-used in another location.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which permits a base layer of concrete to be laid and then permits accurate levelling of a finishing surface to be applied without the necessity of re-positioning the components.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is easily constructed, simple to use, and otherwise, well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my pegs driven into the ground and sectioned tov show the interior thereof together with one end of a length of rail engageable upon the upper end thereof.

Figure 2 is an end View of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the lower end of one of the stems showing the inclined shoulder thereof.

Figure 4 is a section substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a reduced perspective view showing my device in use.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a stamped sheet prior to forming the shank of the pegs.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

'I'he conventional method of laying concrete oors, driveways and the like includes the driving of wooden pegs into the ground to a predetermined level and then securing wooden rails to these pegs whereupon a screed may be drawn over the rails thus levelling the oor. It will be appreciated that these are not usually re-usable and also that they take considerable time to install and level accurately. The novel metal pegs provided by this invention together with the metal rails engageable therewith, overcome these disadvantages as well as providing a far more accurate method of adjustment which may be obtained by a transit before pouring the cement.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail,

2,711,097 Patented June 21, 1.955

it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings thatit comprises two main components, namely, the adjustable pegs collectively designated 1 and the screed levelling rails designated 2. Dealing first with the pegs 1, saine comprise a cylindrical hollow shank 2 which may be driven into the ground 3, this action being facilitated by the conical lower end 4. A stem 5 is vertically slideable within the hollow shank 2, said stem including an upper pointed end 6 and an annular recess 7 formed circumferentially around the stem and within the upper portion 6.

The upper ends of the shanks 2 are closed by a flanged collar 8, an aperture being left therein through vwhich may pass the stem 5 and aroundthe stem and above the collar 8 I provide a rubber sealing washer 9 to prevent cementapassing downwardly into the shank .2.

Means to vary the height of the stem S-with relation to the shank 2' are provided and in this embodiment takes the form of a series of teeth 10 vertically situated upon the inner wallv of the shank and extending inwardly therefrom. v 1

Reference to Figure 6 will show my preferred method of making the shank which consists of taking a at sheet of material and stamping the serrations 11 therein thus leaving the projecting teeth 10 along one verticalV edge thereof. This is then formed into a cylinder with the vertical edge containing theteeth 10 being turned inwardly as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. The seam 12 may then be Welded thus forming the shank with the teeth 10 in the desired position therein.

Coacting with the aforementioned teeth 10 is what I dene as an inclined shoulder 13 formed or provided upon the lower end 14 of the stern S. In this embodiment this shoulder takes the form of a washer welded to the stem, one end 15 of the washer being lower than the opposite end 16 so that the surface 17 of the washer describes an inclined spiral. Reference to Figure 4 will also show that the ends 1'5 and 16 of the washer are spaced apart so that when this space (designated 16') is aligned with the vertical array of teeth 10, the stem may be moved vertically with relation to the shank 2'. However, when the desired relationship between the stem and the shank has been reached, a partial turn of the stem will cause one end of the washer to engage between two adjacent teeth 10 thus locking the stern in position.

Furthermore, due to the inclination of the washer 13, the height of the upper end 6 of the peg may be adjusted finely by rotating the peg through approxiF mately 340.

The aforementioned rails 2 are best shown in Figures l and 2 and comprise lengths of steel formed in inverted U configuration as clearly illustrated, Ad-

, jacent the lower side 2" of the rails I have provided an inturned flange 18 which is capable of engaging with the aforementioned recess 7 within the stem thus locking the rail in position upon a plurality of stems. This rail may be disengaged by an upward movement or may, if desired, be slid off the pegs in a horizontal movement.

In operation, a row of pegs should be driven into the ground so that the anges 8 engage with the surface thereof.

A further row may then be driven in in alignment with the foregoing row and approximately six to eight feet apart.

Further pegs may then be driven in over the entire area to be cemented if desired. The pegs are then levelled by means of a transit, the central stems being raised suiiciently and locked in position, rails 2 are then located over the pegs as hereinbefore described thus providing a level support lfor a conventional screed 19 which 'may be utilized to level cement poured between and around the rails.

After the rough oor has been poured, the pegs may be. raised slightly thus providing an automatic level for a finishing coat if desired. Otherwise,` 'the pegs may then be removed 'and re-used, the 'holes in .the floor being lled with cement at this time.

In conclusion, it will be appreciated that withl this type of device, room'is left to transport cement in wheelbarr'ows or the like and that theyare rapidly installed and removed and accurately levelled.

Furthermore, they are permanent and can be re-used again and lead to a far more accurate lioor or driveway.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely dilierent embodiments of same made withf in the spirit and scope of the claims Without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a screed levelling device, `an adjustable peg capable of being driven into the ground to support levelling rails cooperating therewith, said rails being detachably secured to said pegs, said pegs comprising in combination a hollow sleeve, the lower end of said sleeve being tapered, said sleeve being formed from a at sheet of material, a plurality of serrations formed 4 t on one vertical edge of said at sheet, said sheet being `formed into said vsleeve wherebyv said serrations pro-f ject inwardly from. said sleeve, thereby forming teeth f vertically positioned within said sleeve, a vertically movable stem engageable within said sleeve, means on the upper end of said peg engageable by` said rails, and

means cooperating with said sleeves and said stemsV for,

locking the two in the desired relationship, said means including saidV teeth, an inclined shoulder extending sube stantially around the lower end ofy said stem capable of seiective engagement between any two of said teeth, n the ends of said shoulder being spacedy apart vertically' and horizontally, whereby sai'crly stem may beY moved vertically within said, shankrby aligning said teeth between the ends of said shoulder.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which saidV rails are of inverted U cross-sectional configuration, said meansV associated with said rails for attaching same to said stem including an annular recess formed circum- References Cited in the tile of this patent*L j UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,185` 2,167,176 Grassberger k--- July 25, 1939 2,345,976 Hillberg Apr. 4, 194.4

McBean Jan. 18, 1910` Aurrey Apr. 1o, 19745..: 

